Weekend Plus Desk :
Step outside and get some fresh air’ — you might have been advised to do this several times by the people around you. Getting some fresh air in the morning is considered good for health. However, doing this in winters often hurts.
Imagine, you step out of the house for a walk on a chilly winter morning and as you inhale a lungful of cold air, you feel discomfort and tingling in your airways. This is a common scenario in the winter season. Some people even experience shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. But have you ever wondered why does this happen?
The reason
The real culprit is the cold and dry air that causes irritation in your airways and lungs. When you inhale the cold air, it leads to constriction and stiffness of the air passage, making it harder for you to breathe. This can even lead to chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Secondly, our nose is responsible for heating and humidifying the air we breathe in and when we breathe too cold air, our lungs object to it. Out lungs get used to handling a certain level of warm air and even a slight change in the temperature of the air causes irritation and pain in the airways. If you are sensitive to a cold environment then the effect might be severe.
Many people even get nosebleeds in the winter. That’s because the cold air causes dryness and crack in the nasal passage, which leads to nose bleeding. You can use some ointment to keep your nasal passages moist.
The takeaway
There are some easy steps that you can take to avoid this situation:
– Try to breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth. Your nose can make the cold air warm in a better way before passing it to the lungs.
– Before stepping out, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf. This will make the air warmer before it comes in contact with your nose.
– If you are sensitive to a cold environment or cold temperatures avoid performing any workout outdoor. You can do indoor activities.
– If you are suffering from asthma or any lungs related health issues then be extra careful in the winter season.
Step outside and get some fresh air’ — you might have been advised to do this several times by the people around you. Getting some fresh air in the morning is considered good for health. However, doing this in winters often hurts.
Imagine, you step out of the house for a walk on a chilly winter morning and as you inhale a lungful of cold air, you feel discomfort and tingling in your airways. This is a common scenario in the winter season. Some people even experience shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. But have you ever wondered why does this happen?
The reason
The real culprit is the cold and dry air that causes irritation in your airways and lungs. When you inhale the cold air, it leads to constriction and stiffness of the air passage, making it harder for you to breathe. This can even lead to chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Secondly, our nose is responsible for heating and humidifying the air we breathe in and when we breathe too cold air, our lungs object to it. Out lungs get used to handling a certain level of warm air and even a slight change in the temperature of the air causes irritation and pain in the airways. If you are sensitive to a cold environment then the effect might be severe.
Many people even get nosebleeds in the winter. That’s because the cold air causes dryness and crack in the nasal passage, which leads to nose bleeding. You can use some ointment to keep your nasal passages moist.
The takeaway
There are some easy steps that you can take to avoid this situation:
– Try to breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth. Your nose can make the cold air warm in a better way before passing it to the lungs.
– Before stepping out, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf. This will make the air warmer before it comes in contact with your nose.
– If you are sensitive to a cold environment or cold temperatures avoid performing any workout outdoor. You can do indoor activities.
– If you are suffering from asthma or any lungs related health issues then be extra careful in the winter season.